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Regulatory Matters | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2016
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory Matters [Text Block] | REGULATORY MATTERS Regulatory matters are summarized in Note 5. Regulatory Matters to our Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2015 Form 10-K, with additional disclosure provided in the following paragraphs. Electric Rates. Entities within our Regulated Operations segment file for periodic rate revisions with the MPUC, the FERC or the PSCW. 2010 Minnesota Rate Case. Minnesota Power’s current retail rates are based on a 2011 MPUC retail rate order, effective June 1, 2011, that allows for a 10.38 percent return on common equity and a 54.29 percent equity ratio. Subsequent to this order, and as authorized by the MPUC, Minnesota Power also recognizes revenue under cost recovery riders for environmental, renewable and transmission investments. (See Transmission Cost Recovery Rider, Renewable Cost Recovery Rider and Boswell Mercury Emissions Reduction Plan.) Revenue from cost recovery riders was $25.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 ($20.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015). NOTE 6. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued) Energy-Intensive Trade-Exposed (EITE) Customer Rates. The state of Minnesota enacted an EITE customer ratemaking law in June 2015. The law established that it is the energy policy of the state to have competitive rates for certain industries such as mining and forest products. In November 2015, Minnesota Power filed a rate schedule petition for EITE customers and a corresponding rider for EITE cost recovery with the MPUC. The rate proposal was revenue and cash flow neutral. In an order dated March 23, 2016, the MPUC dismissed the petition without prejudice, providing Minnesota Power the option to refile the petition with additional information or file a new petition. Minnesota Power is evaluating the MPUC’s decision. FERC-Approved Wholesale Rates. Minnesota Power has 16 non-affiliated municipal customers in Minnesota. SWL&P is a Wisconsin utility and a wholesale customer of Minnesota Power. In April 2015, Minnesota Power amended its formula-based wholesale electric sales contract with the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission, extending the term through June 30, 2028. The electric service agreements with SWL&P and one other municipal customer are effective through June 30, 2019. The rates included in these three contracts are set each July 1 based on a cost-based formula methodology, using estimated costs and a rate of return that is equal to Minnesota Power’s authorized rate of return for Minnesota retail customers (currently 10.38 percent). The formula-based rate methodology also provides for a yearly true-up calculation for actual costs incurred. In September 2015, Minnesota Power amended its wholesale electric contracts with 14 municipal customers, extending the contract terms through December 31, 2024. These contracts include fixed capacity charges through 2018; beginning in 2019, the capacity charge will not increase by more than two percent or decrease by more than one percent from the previous year’s capacity charge and will be determined using a cost-based formula methodology. The base energy charge for each year of the contract term will be set each January 1, subject to monthly adjustment, and will also be determined using a cost-based formula methodology. All of the wholesale contracts include a termination clause requiring a three-year notice to terminate. In January 2016, one of Minnesota Power’s municipal customers provided notice of its intent to terminate its contract effective June 30, 2019. Minnesota Power currently provides approximately 29 MW of average monthly demand to this customer. Under the Nashwauk Public Utilities Commission agreement, no termination notice may be given prior to June 30, 2025. Under the agreement with SWL&P, no termination notice may be given prior to June 30, 2016. The remaining 14 municipal customers may not give termination notices prior to December 31, 2021. 2012 Wisconsin Rate Case. SWL&P’s current retail rates are based on a 2012 PSCW retail rate order, effective January 1, 2013, that allows for a 10.9 percent return on common equity. Transmission Cost Recovery Rider. Minnesota Power has an approved cost recovery rider in place for certain transmission investments and expenditures. In an order dated February 3, 2016, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s updated billing factor which allows Minnesota Power to charge retail customers on a current basis for the costs of constructing certain transmission facilities plus a return on the capital invested. As a result of the MPUC approval of the certificate of need for the GNTL in June 2015, the project is eligible for cost recovery under the existing transmission cost recovery rider. Minnesota Power anticipates including its portion of the investments and expenditures for the GNTL in future transmission factor filings to include updated billing rates on customer bills. Renewable Cost Recovery Rider. Minnesota Power has an approved cost recovery rider in place for investments and expenditures related to the 497 MW Bison Wind Energy Center in North Dakota and the restoration and repair of Thomson. Updated customer billing rates for the renewable cost recovery rider were approved by the MPUC in an order dated March 9, 2016, allowing Minnesota Power to charge retail customers on a current basis for the costs of constructing certain renewable investments plus a return on the capital invested. While approving the updated customer billing rates for the renewable cost recovery rider, the MPUC also allowed Minnesota Power additional time to submit support for its position on its utilization of North Dakota investment tax credits. NOTE 6. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued) Minnesota Power accounts for North Dakota investment tax credits based on long-standing regulatory precedents of stand-alone allocation methodology of accounting for income taxes. The stand-alone method provides that income taxes (and credits) are calculated as if Minnesota Power was the only entity included in ALLETE’s consolidated federal and unitary state income tax returns. Minnesota Power has recorded a regulatory liability for North Dakota investment tax credits generated by its jurisdictional activity and expected to be realized in the future. North Dakota investment tax credits attributable to ALLETE’s apportionment and income of ALLETE’s other subsidiaries are included in the ALLETE consolidated group. The Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) has inquired about our use of the North Dakota investment tax credits, taking the position that all North Dakota investment tax credits generated from the Bison Wind Energy Center should be credited to Minnesota Power ratepayers. The MPUC did not come to a decision on this issue in its order dated March 9, 2016, but requested that Minnesota Power provide further support on its position which was submitted on April 8, 2016. The amount of North Dakota investment tax credits recognized by ALLETE as of March 31, 2016, total approximately $8 million, which represents the amount of North Dakota investment tax credits that the Department believes should be refunded to ratepayers. Minnesota Power will appropriately consider all avenues of appeal should an adverse decision be issued by the MPUC. Annual Automatic Adjustment (AAA) of Charges. On April 14, 2016, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s AAA filings made in 2012 and 2013, and deferred action for approximately 90 days on the AAA filing made in 2014 pending review and confirmation of coal transportation costs and terms of service. Minnesota Power’s AAA filings made in 2014 and 2015 are pending MPUC approval, and represent approximately $350 million in retail fuel cost recovery collected, but subject to refund. Minnesota Power currently expects full recovery of amounts represented by each AAA filing, although we cannot predict the outcome of the pending filings at the MPUC. Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). In a November 2013 order, the MPUC approved Minnesota Power’s 2013 IRP which detailed its EnergyForward strategic plan, announced in January 2013. Significant elements of the EnergyForward plan include major wind investments in North Dakota completed in the fourth quarter of 2014, the installation of emissions control technology at Boswell Unit 4 completed in December 2015, planning for the proposed GNTL, the conversion of Laskin from coal to natural gas completed in June 2015 and the retirement of Taconite Harbor Unit 3 completed in May 2015. In September 2015, Minnesota Power filed its 2015 IRP with the MPUC which includes an analysis of a variety of existing and future energy resource alternatives and a projection of customer cost impact by class. The 2015 IRP also contains the next steps in Minnesota Power’s EnergyForward plan including the economic idling of Taconite Harbor Units 1 and 2 in the fall of 2016, the ceasing of coal-fired operations at Taconite Harbor in 2020, and the addition of between 200 MW and 300 MW of natural gas-fired generation in the next decade. Boswell Mercury Emissions Reduction Plan. Minnesota Power has an approved environmental improvement rider in place for investments and expenditures related to the implementation of the Boswell Unit 4 mercury emissions reduction plan completed in 2015. Customer billing rates for the environmental improvement rider were approved by the MPUC in August 2015. In September 2015, Minnesota Power filed an updated environmental improvement factor filing which included updated costs associated with Boswell Unit 4. Upon approval of the filing, Minnesota Power will be authorized to include updated billing rates on customer bills. Boswell Remaining Life Petition. In November 2015, Minnesota Power filed a petition with the MPUC for approval to extend Boswell’s remaining life to 2050 for all units and utilize the existing environmental improvement rider to credit a portion of the depreciation expense savings to customers. The extension request is based on the significant multi-emissions retrofit work done at Boswell Unit 3 and Boswell Unit 4. NOTE 6. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued) Great Northern Transmission Line (GNTL). Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro have proposed construction of the GNTL, an approximately 220-mile 500 kV transmission line between Manitoba and Minnesota’s Iron Range. The GNTL is subject to various federal and state regulatory approvals. In October 2013, a certificate of need application was filed with the MPUC which was approved in a June 2015 order. Based on this order, Minnesota Power’s portion of the investments and expenditures for the project are eligible for cost recovery under its existing transmission cost recovery rider and are anticipated to be included in future transmission factor filings. In a December 2015 order, the FERC approved our request to recover on construction work in progress related to the GNTL from Minnesota Power’s wholesale customers. In April 2014, Minnesota Power filed a route permit application with the MPUC and a request for a presidential permit to cross the U.S.-Canadian border with the U.S. Department of Energy. In an order dated April 11, 2016, the MPUC approved the route permit which largely follows Minnesota Power’s preferred route, including the international border crossing. A final decision on the presidential permit by the U.S. Department of Energy is expected in the second quarter of 2016. Manitoba Hydro must also obtain regulatory and governmental approvals related to a new transmission line in Canada. In September 2015, Manitoba Hydro submitted the final preferred route and EIS for the transmission line in Canada to the Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship for regulatory approval. Construction of Manitoba Hydro’s hydroelectric generation facility commenced in 2014. Upon receipt of all applicable permits and approvals, construction of the GNTL is expected to begin by 2017 and to be completed in 2020. MISO Return on Equity Complaints. In November 2013, several customer groups located within the MISO service area filed complaints with the FERC requesting, among other things, a reduction in the base return on equity used by MISO transmission owners, including ALLETE, to 9.15 percent. In February 2015, an additional complaint was filed with the FERC seeking an order to further reduce the base return on equity to 8.67 percent. In December 2015, a federal administrative law judge ruled that the MISO transmission users have been charged an unreasonable base return on equity and proposed a reduction to 10.32 percent, subject to approval or adjustment by the FERC. A final decision from the FERC on the administrative law judge’s recommendation is expected in 2016. Minnesota Solar Energy Standard. In May 2013, legislation was enacted by the state of Minnesota requiring at least 1.5 percent of total retail electric sales, excluding sales to certain industrial customers, to be generated by solar energy by the end of 2020. At least 10 percent of the 1.5 percent mandate must be met by solar energy generated by or procured from solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less. Minnesota Power has two solar projects under development. In August 2015, Minnesota Power filed for MPUC approval of a 10 MW utility scale solar project at Camp Ripley, a Minnesota Army National Guard base and training facility near Little Falls, Minnesota. In an order dated February 24, 2016, the MPUC approved the Camp Ripley solar project as eligible to meet the solar energy standard and for current cost recovery, subject to certain compliance requirements. In September 2015, Minnesota Power filed for MPUC approval of a 1 MW community solar garden project in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, to be owned and operated by a third party with the output purchased by Minnesota Power. If the community solar garden project is also approved, Minnesota Power believes these projects will meet approximately one-third of the overall mandate and approximately one-fourth of the mandate related to solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less. Costs associated with these projects are expected to be recovered from customers. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities. Our regulated utility operations are subject to accounting guidance for the effect of certain types of regulation. Regulatory assets represent incurred costs that have been deferred as they are probable for recovery in customer rates. Regulatory liabilities represent obligations to make refunds to customers and amounts collected in rates for which the related costs have not yet been incurred. The Company assesses quarterly whether regulatory assets and liabilities meet the criteria for probability of future recovery or deferral. No regulatory assets or liabilities are currently earning a return. The recovery, refund or credit to rates for these regulatory assets and liabilities will occur over the periods either specified by the applicable regulatory authority or over the corresponding period related to the asset or liability. NOTE 6. REGULATORY MATTERS (Continued)
Regulatory Assets and Liabilities | March 31, 2016 |  |  | December 31, 2015 |
Millions |  |  |
Current Regulatory Assets (a) |  |  |
Deferred Fuel Adjustment Clause |  | $12.4 |  |  |  | $10.6 |
Total Current Regulatory Assets | 12.4 |  |  | 10.6 |
Non-Current Regulatory Assets |  |  |
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b) | 217.0 |  |  | 219.3 |
Income Taxes (c) | 64.4 |  |  | 64.2 |
Cost Recovery Riders (d) | 54.3 |  |  | 58.0 |
Asset Retirement Obligations (e) | 22.5 |  |  | 21.6 |
PPACA Income Tax Deferral | 5.0 |  |  | 5.0 |
Other | 3.9 |  |  | 3.9 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Assets | 367.1 |  |  | 372.0 |
Total Regulatory Assets |  | $379.5 |  |  |  | $382.6 |
Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  |  |
Wholesale and Retail Contra AFUDC (f) |  | $57.1 |  |  |  | $58.0 |
Plant Removal Obligations | 20.6 |  |  | 22.1 |
Income Taxes (c) | 5.7 |  |  | 6.1 |
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans (b) | 0.4 |  |  | 0.9 |
Other | 18.4 |  |  | 17.9 |
Total Non-Current Regulatory Liabilities |  | $102.2 |  |  |  | $105.0 |
(a) | Current regulatory assets are included in Prepayments and Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b) | Defined benefit pension and other postretirement items included in our Regulated Operations, which are otherwise required to be recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income as actuarial gains and losses as well as prior service costs and credits, are recognized as regulatory assets or regulatory liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The asset or liability will decrease as the deferred items are amortized and recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. (See Note 12. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.)
(c) | These assets and liabilities are offsets to deferred income taxes recognized on certain regulatory temporary differences, which will reverse over the remaining lives of those temporary differences.
(d) | The cost recovery rider regulatory assets are revenues not yet collected from our customers primarily due to capital expenditures related to the Bison Wind Energy Center, investment in CapX2020 projects, and the Boswell Unit 4 environmental upgrade and are recognized in accordance with the accounting standards for alternative revenue programs. The cost recovery rider regulatory assets as of March 31, 2016, will be recovered over the next two years.
(e) | Asset retirement obligations will accrete and be amortized over the lives of the related property with asset retirement obligations.
(f) | Wholesale and Retail Contra AFUDC represents the regulatory offset to AFUDC Equity and Debt recorded during the construction period of our cost recovery rider projects prior to placing the projects in service. The regulatory liability will decrease over the remaining depreciable life of the related asset.

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